Last updated at 20:33, Thursday, 19 July 2012

Work to reduce the odour coming from a facility that tests dead farm stock in Workington has improved the situation for nearby residents.

The new facility in Northside, which is run by the Northern Fallen Stock Company, provoked complaints from residents who claimed it produced a stench of rotten flesh.

Environmental health officers from Allerdale council have visited the site twice since the complaints.

A council spokeswoman said: “The company is working with us to minimise the impacts of their activities on nearby residents.”

Workington councillor Billy Miskelly, who reported the original issue to the council, said he had received no further complaints from residents.

Northside School lodged a formal complaint with Allerdale council about the smell because it was so bad that children had to be kept indoors at playtimes.

Acting headteacher Jenny Carter said: “We haven’t had any other problems since the complaints, and it has definitely got better.”

The Defra-approved processing site acts as an intermediate site after carcasses are collected from farms.

Samples of brain material and hides are taken from animals to test for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, which identifies mad cow disease.

The carcasses are then sent to another site to be disposed of.

A spokesman for the Northern Fallen Stock Company added: “Things have been put in place and are still being put in place to improve matters.”

Environmental health officers will continue to monitor the situation.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk